CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago police officials met with youth leaders Tuesday as part of an initiative to protect Chicago's neighborhoods.
CPD interim superintendent Fred Waller and police officers celebrated the work of youth participants in the Youth District Advisory Council Summer Leadership Institute.
"When we talk about them, we always say, 'these are our real leaders of tomorrow," Waller said.
As part of the initiative, over 76 young people work with CPD on a weekly basis to help keep Chicago communities safe.
Gia Slaughter is one of them.
"It's amazing, because a lot of people don't get this opportunity and you can take it back to your community and educate others, and you can make good out of it and become a leader," she said.
Trenten Hansen is another youth leader.
"You hear about police officers being intimidating, but being able to work here and work with them shows that they're not," he said.
Hansen said working with CPD has created a sense of trust with the department.
"They're people. They're humans, and I fee like everyone should be able to see that."
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